Why No Excuse

No Excuse is a blog focusing on poverty and poverty issues in Hamilton, Ontario. Look here daily for news items, events, resources, and a chance to engage in discussions with others on local poverty issues. No Excuse was originally staff-written when it was launched in 2007 as part of the Hamilton Spectator's Poverty Project, but it is now a community blog written by people who come from all walks of city life, but share a deep concern for poverty issues. See "Who Are We" for more information about our authors.

April 22, 2009

A law to enshrine a poverty reduction strategy

By Liz Weaver

Members of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction including Sandy Leyland, Bill Medeiros, Tom Cooper and me made a presentation to the Government of Ontario Standing Committee on Social Policy about Bill 152, an act respecting a long-term strategy to reduce poverty in Ontario. Below are a few highlights from the Roundtable’s presentation to the Standing Committee:

Bill 152: Overview and principlesParticipation of thousands of Ontarians in community consultations indicates significant support for the Ontario Poverty Strategy. We believe that government plays a critical role in poverty reduction and alleviation. This role includes reforming the rules which keep individuals and families living in poverty, investing in the lives of children and their families and investing in communities. Difficult economic circumstances affect the most vulnerable and marginalized more severely and leadership and investment is a critical support and lifeline to 1.8 million Ontarians below the poverty line.We commend the government for bringing forward Bill 152. This is the first time in this province that a legislative initiative seeks to enshrine the need to reduce poverty. The government of Ontario has taken a bold step in creating an inter-ministerial working committee to focus on developing a poverty reduction strategy. We recommend that this process be entrenched in Bill 152 to ensure that future governments will continue the collaborative, cross-ministerial response to the complex issue of poverty. We would note, however, that the process undertaken for public hearings on this bill was restrictive for those individuals who will be most affected by the legislation, people living with low and limited incomes. We are very pleased to be joined today by two of the Roundtable’s citizen leaders who have influenced our directions and identified priorities for Hamilton’s vulnerable populations.

Specific poverty reduction targetsThe Roundtable believes that the most important target is the elimination of poverty for all citizens and recommends that the goal of a poverty-free Ontario be enshrined in the legislation. However, we recognize that interim targets can be a positive factor in evaluating success in reducing poverty. We also recommend the inclusion of additional targets which recognize low-income sub-populations which are particularly vulnerable to high rates of poverty including Aboriginal people, single mothers, recent immigrants, or visible minorities.

Initiatives to improve the lives of those living in povertyWe would recommend that the “initiatives designed to improve the economic and social conditions of persons and families living in poverty” be publicly released by the minister on an annual basis and contain both funded investments and information about government priorities such as reform of the rules and regulations which keep individuals, children and families living in poverty.The Province of Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy identified a number of investments in children, youth and their families living in poverty. Many of these investments are driven through a variety of provincial ministries. We recommend that a flexible funding and program delivery approach can leverage with municipal investments to create opportunities for people living in poverty. In the Minister’s December, 2008 report Breaking the Cycle, “rule changes” were identified that have since provided much needed help to families in receipt of social assistance.

Indicators that will measure successWe recommend that annual reporting of the eight poverty reduction indicators from both a provincial and community focus would enable local communities to determine the success of their poverty reduction strategies at the community level, gaps in progress and priority setting as well as determining how the community was doing relative to the provincial results.

Comments

I would like to give my congratulations to Ms Weaver, Sandy Leyland, Bill Medeiros and Tom Cooper for speaking up for the many citizens who are vulnerable in our city and province. This goes to show how far the Hamilton Poverty Roundtable and many other advocates have come. There is so much more work to be done, but I am glad that the people who care so deeply about families and children in poverty are there to speak for them. My hope is that in the process, the changes and Breaking the Cycle comes with dignity, respect and helps to change the stigma that comes along with it. Thank you.